20 Incredibly Successful Actors Who Started With Literally Nothing

20 Incredibly Successful Actors Who Started With Literally Nothing

Everyone loves a good success story—but there’s something extra inspiring about actors who started with nothing and still managed to make it big. These stars didn’t just chase fame; they fought through poverty, rejection, and every imaginable obstacle to reach their dreams.

1. Jim Carrey

Before the fame, fortune, and funny faces, Jim Carrey was living out of a van with his family after his father lost his job. As a teenager, he worked as a janitor to help make ends meet while still dreaming of a life on stage.

His humor became his armor, helping him turn pain into performance. After countless rejections, his persistence paid off when he broke through with In Living Color and later Ace Ventura.

Carrey’s story reminds us that laughter can be born from struggle—and that even the toughest times can fuel your greatest success.

2. Halle Berry

Life wasn’t always red carpets and awards for Halle Berry. Before she became an Oscar-winning actress, she was sleeping in a New York City homeless shelter while chasing her dream.

Refusing to let setbacks define her, Berry hustled through auditions until Hollywood finally noticed her undeniable talent. Her breakout roles in Boomerang and Monster’s Ball made her one of the most respected actresses in the industry.

Her journey from homelessness to Hollywood stardom proves that self-belief can light the way out of even the darkest times.

3. Sylvester Stallone

Before Rocky made him a household name, Sylvester Stallone was so broke he sold his dog for $40 just to eat. He’d spent years facing rejection for his looks, voice, and acting style.

Instead of giving up, Stallone wrote his own destiny—literally. In just three days, he wrote the Rocky screenplay and refused to sell it unless he could star in it.

His determination paid off when the film became a global hit, winning three Oscars. Stallone later reunited with his dog, proving that happy endings sometimes take a few punches to reach.

4. Hilary Swank

It’s hard to believe that the two-time Oscar winner once lived out of a car. Hilary Swank and her mom moved to Los Angeles with nothing but ambition and a few dollars to their name.

They parked wherever they could sleep safely while Hilary auditioned for roles. Eventually, her raw talent landed her a breakout performance in Boys Don’t Cry, which won her first Academy Award.

Her rise from homelessness to Hollywood success is a reminder that belief—and a supportive mom—can make all the difference.

5. Oprah Winfrey

Before she became one of the world’s most powerful women, Oprah endured a childhood filled with poverty, abuse, and instability. Raised in rural Mississippi with no running water, she learned early on how to rely on her voice and resilience to survive.

Her broadcasting career began in local radio, where her natural empathy and honesty instantly stood out. What followed was a meteoric rise that changed television forever, as The Oprah Winfrey Show became a cultural phenomenon.

Today, she’s not just a media mogul—she’s living proof that even the harshest beginnings can’t hold back an unstoppable spirit.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio

Growing up in a crime-ridden Los Angeles neighborhood, Leonardo DiCaprio witnessed drugs and violence before he ever saw fame. His family’s financial struggles didn’t stop him from pursuing acting as an escape route.

He started in commercials and TV roles before landing his breakout in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, where his performance earned an Oscar nomination. That role catapulted him into superstardom, later cemented by Titanic and The Revenant.

From the streets to the screen, DiCaprio’s success shows what happens when raw talent meets relentless drive.

7. Charlize Theron

Few know that Charlize Theron’s path to fame began with tragedy and hardship in South Africa. After escaping an abusive home, she arrived in the U.S. with barely any money and dreams of becoming a dancer.

When a knee injury ended that dream, she found herself stranded in Los Angeles. A chance encounter at a bank led her to acting, and soon Hollywood discovered her star power.

Today, she’s an Oscar winner and advocate, proving that even heartbreak can lead to transformation when you refuse to give up.

8. Demi Moore

Growing up with an alcoholic stepfather and constant instability, Demi Moore’s childhood was far from glamorous. She dropped out of high school at 16 and moved to Hollywood with no money and no plan—just determination.

Working odd jobs to survive, she slowly found her way into acting. Her big break came with St. Elmo’s Fire, followed by megahits like Ghost and A Few Good Men.

Moore’s story reminds us that strength often comes from the storms we survive, not the calm that follows.

9. Chris Pratt

Before becoming a Marvel superhero, Chris Pratt was waiting tables and living in a van in Maui. He was broke but optimistic, spending his free time surfing and dreaming of a better life.

His charm and humor eventually caught the attention of a director, leading to his first acting role. Years later, his easygoing personality helped him land Parks and Recreation and eventually Guardians of the Galaxy.

Pratt’s journey proves that sometimes the road to success starts with sleeping under the stars—literally.

10. Jennifer Lopez

It’s hard to imagine Jennifer Lopez without fame and fortune, but her journey began with rejection and struggle. When her mother disapproved of her pursuing dance, J.Lo left home and slept on a studio couch.

That determination paid off when she became a Fly Girl on In Living Color, launching a career that would span music, film, and business.

Her success story is a powerful reminder that betting on yourself—even when no one else does—can lead to unimaginable heights.

11. Mark Wahlberg

Once a troubled teen growing up in Boston, Mark Wahlberg’s early life was filled with violence and arrests. His future looked bleak until he decided to turn his life around.

Starting as a rapper in Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, he transitioned into acting and earned respect for roles in Boogie Nights and The Departed.

Now a producer and businessman, Wahlberg’s redemption arc proves it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

12. Sarah Jessica Parker

Growing up on welfare with seven siblings, Sarah Jessica Parker’s childhood was anything but glamorous. Yet even as a child, she knew she wanted to perform.

Her big break came when she landed the title role in Broadway’s Annie, which lifted her family out of poverty. Years later, Sex and the City made her an icon of independence and style.

Her journey from hand-me-downs to high heels is proof that dreams really can come true—with a little persistence and a lot of heart.

13. Danny Trejo

Before becoming Hollywood’s go-to tough guy, Danny Trejo spent years in prison battling addiction. While serving time, he found purpose through boxing and helping other inmates stay clean.

After his release, a twist of fate brought him to a movie set, where his look and authenticity landed him a role. From there, he built a career spanning over 400 films.

Trejo’s transformation is one of Hollywood’s most inspiring reminders that second chances can lead to legendary success.

14. Tom Cruise

Raised in near-poverty by a single mother, Tom Cruise moved constantly as a child and faced learning challenges due to dyslexia. But acting gave him the confidence school never did.

He hustled through small roles until Risky Business turned him into a star, followed by Top Gun, which solidified his place in Hollywood history.

Cruise’s story shows how resilience and belief in yourself can take you from struggling student to global icon.

15. Samuel L. Jackson

Before becoming one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Samuel L. Jackson struggled for years with addiction and limited roles. He even worked as a social worker before his big break.

A life-changing intervention helped him get clean, and soon after, he landed Pulp Fiction, which transformed his career.

Jackson’s story is proof that it’s never too late to rise, no matter how many times you’ve fallen.

16. Joaquin Phoenix

Born into a nomadic family involved in a controversial religious cult, Joaquin Phoenix’s childhood was marked by instability and poverty. Acting became a way out for him and his siblings.

His early performances hinted at greatness, but it wasn’t until Walk the Line and Joker that he truly became a Hollywood heavyweight.

Phoenix’s story shows that even the most chaotic beginnings can lead to extraordinary artistry.

17. Shania Twain

Before she became a global country-pop icon, Shania Twain grew up in extreme poverty in rural Canada. Her family often struggled to afford food, and she began singing in bars at just eight years old to help pay the bills.

When tragedy struck and both her parents died in a car accident, Twain stepped up to raise her younger siblings. Despite heartbreak and hardship, she never gave up on her music.

Her determination eventually paid off with the release of The Woman in Me, which launched her to superstardom. Shania’s journey proves that even the most painful beginnings can lead to a life of purpose and power.

18. Whoopi Goldberg

Long before her EGOT-winning career, Whoopi Goldberg was a single mother working odd jobs, including bricklaying, to survive. She even experienced periods of homelessness.

A one-woman stage show in New York caught the attention of director Mike Nichols, leading to her breakout role in The Color Purple.

Her journey from survival mode to superstardom proves that humor and heart can build an empire from nothing.

19. Mila Kunis

When Mila Kunis immigrated from Ukraine at age seven, she didn’t speak a word of English and her family had just $250 to their name.

Acting classes became her way of adapting, and her natural talent soon landed her the role of Jackie on That ’70s Show—at just 14.

Today, she’s one of Hollywood’s most successful actresses and producers, showing that courage and adaptability can turn culture shock into success.

20. Nicki Minaj

Long before the fame and fortune, Nicki Minaj’s life in Queens, New York, was anything but glamorous. She faced a turbulent home life, working multiple jobs just to make ends meet while pursuing her passion for music.

Early on, she was fired from nearly every job she had—but she refused to settle. Instead, she poured her energy into her art, creating alter egos and building her confidence through mixtapes.

Her rise from struggling waitress to rap royalty shows that self-belief, reinvention, and relentless hustle can turn pain into power.